2016 PSLE Discussions (Born in 2004)

[janet88]

Kee Kor:

My DS maintained a 9.30 -10.30pm bedtime since sec 1. So it can be done but really need to ignore the phone... lots of nonsense chat going on

1030pm bedtime if she takes a nap...or else she will be zombie by dinner time and homework will be a struggle to complete.

[madhushi]

Hi Mummies

Just wanted to share my thoughts on Zhounghua open house that i attended last week with my DD. Overall i feel like the school got more achievements in NPCC activities and they are good in discipline. The school is too old and need some renovation. I didn’t like the canteen food there. My DD don’t want to join there as she is comparing her current Primary school with ZHSS. I would be happy to know if any parents visited the school and their opinion on it.

[janet88]

going to warn daughter if she is going to be actively reading her whatsapp and instagram nonsense, i will take away her smart phone. the problem is 2G will be terminated next year. with 7-8 subjects, she better spend her time wisely.

[AppleCrumble]

SpartanMum:

AppleCrumble:

[quote=\"nms1\"]

I would not allow my daughter to be at a school event after 11pm however she is coming home. They are still 16 or under in secondary school and activities shouldn't continue that late. Teenagers still need 9 hours of sleep (although I know it is a lot less for most of them in reality).

As for coming home earlier than that on her own, I think she needs a bit more practice on the MRT first

Given a choice, I would not allow my DD to come home that late too. Unfortunately, there will be occasions where you have to accept and deal with it.

DD was in a UG and they were hosting a campfire at school compound. They invited fellow UG members from other schools (as it is a practice to take turns to host campfires). The event officially ended at 10.30 pm but the host team had to stay on to clear up. It was past 11 pm when all was done. So DD had no choice but to call daddy to come and fetch her home. This happened only once a year when she was in Sec 3 and 4 as she has taken up a leadership position. Must 'lead by example' for the juniors right?

9 hours of :snooze: daily while in secondary school when one has so much going on? That's a luxury or the person is super efficient/discipline in time management... :evil:

It is so sad that sleeping late is considered as leading by example by many students and even teachers. I find it such a joke in secondary school that teachers go on and on about time management but know full well that time management actually equates to sleeping less. That is the reality of the sec school life in SG. And the more elite the school is, the more you have to be \"efficient in time management\" aka \"sleeping a lot less\".It is only possible to manage time when you have time to manage.
But to be fair, I strongly suspect those teens who use their phones a lot less sleep a lot more.[/quote]Just a clarification - by saying 'leading by example', I am referring to my DD having to stay on in school as an UG leader to help clear up the school compound after the camp fire had ended, NOT sleeping late.

If one is looking at '9 hours of :snooze: daily while in secondary school', assuming the student is leaving for school at 6.30 am in the morning, this means that he/she is to be awake at about 6 am (half an hour to get ready for school). Bed time is then 9 pm the night before. When you come home at about 5-6 pm the day before (CCA, project meetings), that leaves you with 3-4 hours to wind down, eat dinner, complete homework, project research, revision, etc.

[sleepy]

My dd1 has been sleeping around 10pm in Sec 1 and 2. No difference whether exam period or school holiday. Occasionally stayed up till past 11pm to rush project but that happened less than 5 times in my memory. I think the key to a relaxed school life is to choose a not too intensive cca. Although she represents school for competitions, there are only 3 competitions each year and training is strictly during cca time slot. No extra commitment in terms of time.


I would prefer her to sleep earlier but she dilly dally a lot

[madhushi]

passioninlearning:

Just to add on, for ZHSS...


In March this year, I was mentoring a ZHSS Sec 2 student.
This student had claimed to be in the top class, and the top 10% of cohort. However, when I tested her on 2 simple simultaneous equations, she was not able to solve.

The key about open house is that the host will pour out all the best and show to parents, and not a full picture will be protrayed.

While such sessions are a bonus to many who attended, parents may want to make a more informed decision when making a choice.


Regards,
Eric
passioninlearning.wordpress.com

Yes that's right we need to look deeper to choose which is the best. :thankyou:

[janet88]

sleepy:

My dd1 has been sleeping around 10pm in Sec 1 and 2. No difference whether exam period or school holiday. Occasionally stayed up till past 11pm to rush project but that happened less than 5 times in my memory. I think the key to a relaxed school life is to choose a not too intensive cca. Although she represents school for competitions, there are only 3 competitions each year and training is strictly during cca time slot. No extra commitment in terms of time.

when son was in sec 1 and 2, he stayed up till past 1130pm because of his interest in the cca. he loves it so much that he took it upon himself to be involved with everything :slapshead: with daughter going to sec 1, i will tell her to select a cca which is not intensive and doesn't require her to go back to school on saturdays. with 7-8 subjects, she certainly doesn't have time for an active cca.

[SpartanMum]

sleepy:

My dd1 has been sleeping around 10pm in Sec 1 and 2. No difference whether exam period or school holiday. Occasionally stayed up till past 11pm to rush project but that happened less than 5 times in my memory. I think the key to a relaxed school life is to choose a not too intensive cca. Although she represents school for competitions, there are only 3 competitions each year and training is strictly during cca time slot. No extra commitment in terms of time.


I would prefer her to sleep earlier but she dilly dally a lot

DS1 just completed sec 2. CCA trains 3-4 times a week, tournament or no tournament and finishes around 6pm. In addition to CCA, has other commitments in school including a sort of second CCA. He still sleeps at 9.30 pm every day. Latest he has gone to bed is around10pm. He can do so because of 3 reasons:
1) School is 15 min away
2) He restricts his hand phone usage (I don't nag him)
3) He doesn't have to do housework (No, I am not proud of this at all)

But I can imagine how far bed time would get pushed back if school was an hour away, hand phone usage was uncontrolled and if housework was part of daily routine.

School workloads are incredibly heavy and in many schools (especially the elite ones) a huge emphasis is placed on winning when it comes to competitions and tournaments related to CCAs. Nothing less than the best is expected of each and every student. Unless school is near by and hand phone usage can be moderated, bed times are inevitably going to get pushed back.

I am bracing myself for Sec3 when school hours are longer and CCAs start even later in the afternoon.

[MrsKiasu]

janet88:

sleepy:

My dd1 has been sleeping around 10pm in Sec 1 and 2. No difference whether exam period or school holiday. Occasionally stayed up till past 11pm to rush project but that happened less than 5 times in my memory. I think the key to a relaxed school life is to choose a not too intensive cca. Although she represents school for competitions, there are only 3 competitions each year and training is strictly during cca time slot. No extra commitment in terms of time.

when son was in sec 1 and 2, he stayed up till past 1130pm because of his interest in the cca. he loves it so much that he took it upon himself to be involved with everything :slapshead: with daughter going to sec 1, i will tell her to select a cca which is not intensive and doesn't require her to go back to school on saturdays. with 7-8 subjects, she certainly doesn't have time for an active cca.

Any minimum no. of CCA to take up for sec sch? We just go for the min. now and for leisure only.

[Imp75]

that is why I am letting my gal go with the "no touch book" policy till start of next year b/c I can foresee she really will have no time in her new school.

In fact, once school holi starts, her intensive cca training will commence with the competition just around the corner in March.